Customizing the layout of the instrument panel of a motorized vehicle

• US 20070069880A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, Michael, Gray, James, Best, Steven
• Application Number:
  US11/239,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069880A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/02 Arrangement of instruments arrangement of lighting devices for dashboards B60Q3/10

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for customizing the layout of the instrument panel of a motorized vehicle, the method including creating a skin definition of the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle, installing the skin definition onto the motorized vehicle, and activating the skin definition as the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for customizing the layout of the instrument panel of a motorized vehicle, the method comprising:

selecting a skin definition of the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle;

installing the skin definition onto the motorized vehicle; and

activating the skin definition as the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a skin definition of the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein creating a skin definition of the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle further comprises:

receiving, through a user interface, specifications for the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle; and

;

creating the skin definition of the layout in dependence upon the specifications for the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle received through the user interface.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein receiving, through a user interface, specifications for the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle further comprises:

receiving a selection of an instrument displayed on the instrument panel of a motorized vehicle;

receiving display parameters for rendering the instrument; and

receiving location parameters for rendering the instrument.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the user interface further comprises a software module for receiving specifications for the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the user interface further comprises a component of the motorized vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein installing the skin definition onto the motorized vehicle further comprises porting the skin definition from another motorized vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the instrument panel comprises an all points addressable display device.

9. A apparatus for customizing the layout of the instrument panel of a motorized vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a computer processor;

a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions capable of;

selecting a skin definition of the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle;

installing the skin definition onto the motorized vehicle; and

activating the skin definition as the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the computer memory also has disposed within it computer program instructions capable of creating a skin definition of the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the computer memory also has disposed within it computer program instructions capable of:

receiving, through a user interface specifications for the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle; and

creating the skin definition of the layout in dependence upon the specifications for the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle received through the user interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer memory also has disposed within it computer program instructions capable of:

receiving a selection of an instrument displayed on the instrument panel of a motorized vehicle;

receiving display parameters for rendering the instrument; and

receiving location parameters for rendering the instrument.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the user interface further comprises a software module for receiving specifications for the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the computer memory also has disposed within it computer program instructions capable of porting the skin definition from another motorized vehicle.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the instrument panel comprises an all points addressable display device.

16. A computer program product for customizing the layout of the instrument panel of a motorized vehicle, the computer program product disposed upon a signal bearing medium, the computer program product comprising:

computer program instructions for selecting a skin definition of the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle;

computer program instructions for installing the skin definition onto the motorized vehicle; and

computer program instructions for activating the skin definition as the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising computer program instructions for creating a skin definition of the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the signal bearing medium comprises a recordable medium.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the signal bearing medium comprises a transmission medium.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the computer program instructions for creating a skin definition of the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle further comprise:

computer program instructions for receiving specifications for the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle; and

computer program instructions for creating the skin definition of the layout in dependence upon the specifications for the layout of the instrument panel of the motorized vehicle.